The League Cup. Why bother? Who cares?
There is a generation or three of Canary fanatics for whom the Wembley triumph of 1985 is just an entry in the football history books.
The last twenty seasons have seen ten different managers try but with no happy memories in Norfolk. In fact, there have been some humbling hammerings and dreary defeats.
It’s a grim list of failure. Here it is in full:
2014/15 R3 Shrewsbury (A) 0-1 [Adams] Winners – Chelsea
2013/14 R4 Man Utd (A) 0-4 [Hughton] Man City
2012/13 QF Aston Villa (H) 1-4 [Hughton] Swansea
2011/12 R2 MK Dons (H) 0-4 [Lambert] Liverpool
2010/11 R2 Blackburn (A) 1-3 [Lambert] Birmingham
2009/10 R2 Sunderland (H) 1-4 [Lambert] Man Utd
2008/09 R1 MK Dons (A) 0-1 [Roeder] Man Utd
2007/08 R3 Man City (A) 0-1 [Grant] Tottenham
2006/07 R3 Port Vale (A) 0-0 (pens) [Grant] Chelsea
2005/06 R3 Birmingham (A) 1-2 [Worthington] Man Utd
2004/05 R3 Newcastle (A) 1-2 [Worthington] Chelsea
2003/04 R1 Northampton (A) 0-1 [Worthington] Middlesbrough
2002/03 R1 Cheltenham (H) 0-3 [Worthington] Liverpool
2001/02 R2 Brentford (A) 0-1 [Worthington] Blackburn
2000/01 R3 Derby (A) 0-3 [Hamilton] Liverpool
1999/00 R2 Fulham (H) 0-4 / A 0-2 [Rioch] Leicester
1998/99 R3 Bolton (A) 1-1 (pens) [Rioch] Tottenham
1997/98 R1 Barnet (H) 2-1 / (A) 1-3 [Walker] Chelsea
1996/97 R1 Oxford (A) 1-1 / (H) 2-3 [Walker] Leicester
1995/96 QF Birmingham (H) 1-1 / (A) 1-2 [Megson] Aston Villa
I could of course have gone back further but I think the point is made. What the list does show is that some of the biggest names in the land do take it seriously. It may not have the kudos of a league title or the glamour of an FA Cup win but it’s a trophy after all.
It does also provide the double-edged sword of Europa League action to come but the world’s not perfect. For Swansea, it may well have been the moment when the club realised they were at the start of a golden era.
I suspect that many City fans aren’t bothered about how far we get in the opening cup competition of the season. League position is all that matters, nothing else.
I also suspect that while those ten previous managers didn’t pick their sides to lose, few probably lost any sleep on the night of those defeats.
But I suspect that Alex Neil is a man who does not like to lose a game of tiddlywinks or Scrabble with the family, let alone any kind of football match in which he is involved. And I can see an early exit against a lower league opponent giving him a distinctly restless night.
When the draw was made it was clear that the balls had not been kind to us. While the big boys sit out the early rounds, the rest of us Premier League mortals face tasks of varying trickiness. Possibly only Watford – who play Preston away – came out of the hat with a tougher opener than ourselves.
For the underdogs with top flight opposition over the next couple of nights, it’s a chance to take a prize scalp and for their players to etch their names in their respective club histories by beating and embarrassing a club that they may not face again in their careers.
While it’s likely that changes will be made to the starting line-up for tonight’s trip to Rotherham, there will be no let up in expectation from the relentless Glaswegian as he prowls the touchline at the New York stadium.
The likes of Bennett, Wisdom, Toffolo, Andreu, Odjidja-Ofoe, Hooper (if still here) and Ricky will be champing at the bit for some proper action and may well find themselves asked to do a job. It’s their chance to stake a claim for at least the bench (which most haven’t had a sniff of yet) on the glamour weekends to come.
Yet these early ties have little glamour. They’re not for the weak of heart or spirit, not that anyone of that description is likely to reside in an Alex Neil squad.
It’s an occasion for working hard, tackling hard and getting the job done. No fancy stuff.
I wouldn’t dream of trying to second guess Neil’s team selection but would expect at least four or five of those squad members to get the nod. Then again, with a free Saturday this weekend, maybe we will see more of Neil’s go-to guys start the game.
I’m not expecting us to pay another visit to Wembley this season but a strong (quarter-final?) showing would be a big boost for those last months of the league campaign.
Let’s not give the good folk of Rotherham anything to cheer. Alex Neil’s unbeaten away record is at stake after all.
Great article and sentiments I wholly agree with
After their exertions on Saturday, I’ll be surprised to see any of that X! starting tonight.
It’s an opportunity for others to make their mark – hopefully more will take the opportunity than we’ve seen in recent years.
Sorry – but I won’t lose sleep if we lose.
Two quarter finals in twenty years is a pretty poor record. However it’s indicative of a third priority cup competition, with midweek fixtures and a stupid seeding system which favours the top clubs.
Great article.
Big game for Rotherham, banana skin for us, it’s what cup ties are all about. We drew our games against them last season so we have a score to settle. I can see another draw and penalties with RVW scoring the winner, now wouldn’t that be fun!
Of course we would love a cup run …… Kick it off!
Tim – Cheers.
Stewart/Gary – I’m putting you both in the apathetic category unlike me and Tim! Lose sleep – no, but have happier dreams with a win surely?
The odds may be stacked in favour of the mega-bucks monsters but all the more reason to give it a right good go and try to stick one in the eye of the footballing bourgeoisie? Otherwise, it’s just giving up without a fight – not the AN way.
I don’t think any of Saturdays team will play after 90 mins in that heat. I woul forecast the following starting 11:
. Rudd
Wisdom Bennet Turner Tofflo
Afoe Andreu O’Neil Johnson
Hooper
Grabban
Still no place in the starting 11 for RVW
Colin – that’s the spirit. As we saw last season, the Millers are a good team so it would be a small banana skin if things go pear-shaped.
Frank – they did have 2 drinks breaks and a Sunday off! That still looks a strong team for a tricky job though.
I make that 3 positives and 2 old curmudgeons (Frank – neutral) for a good LC run.
Just for the record, over the past 20 years we’ve played 55 LC games (26W, 22L) with 88 scored and 81 conceded – doesn’t look so bad in those terms but the list above tells the true tale.
I’d settle tonight for a repeat of 2006 when we won 4-2 at Rotherham in R2 with Fakenham’s own Ryan Jarvis getting a brace.
@5 – Russell, my indifference is due to the way the majority of teams, even those in the Championship, treat the competition.
I do wonder, if ever they did away with the Europa League spot for the winners, if all Premier League would bother entering?
The biggest issue in games like this is always whether an unfamiliar line up can gel. My impression is that in Neil’s squad everyone knows their role should they be picked.
The back-up team has more experience than in the past too. Toffolo is probably the only “youngster” likely to play, and even he has quite a few games under his belt.
Frank’s suggested team (at 6) may be close – Elliot Bennett (assuming he’s fit) at RB with Wisdom in the centre rather than Turner seems more likely to me.
Worth remembering that the Millers have 1 point from 4 games so won’t necessarily be heavily focussed on a cup run either.
I think we’ll be fine. Hope so because their manager is one of the most obnoxious in the league in my view, right up there with Billy Davies and Colin.
Keith – I’m intrigued..Colin?
Steve Evans is certainly a ‘colourful’ character. Fellow Glaswegian, I’m expecting the touchline to be alive with vibrant Celtic invective tonight.
I have a nasty feeling it could go down to penalties.
Apathetic AND an old curmudgeon?
Normally I’d defend myself. But since I keep forgetting that we actually have a game tonight, I’d better say it’s a fair cop.
However, society may be to blame.
You can’t have forgotten “Colin” can you Russell? Think Sheff U, QPR, Palace and many others.
I always imagined a conversation taking place when he was in charge at Loftus Rd.
“Philip, why is one’s rangers’ manager known as Colin….?”
Russ – with your love of puns, word play and anagrams I’m astonished you’re not familiar with dear old ‘Colin W***er’!
[missing letters are k-n-a and he’s recently managed QPR and Crystal Palace!!]
Gary/Keith – what’s Ian Holloway got to do with it?!
I think I need a lie down now.
I think ‘Old Colin’s’ not too bad these days. Very good on TalkSport with AB
I have to disagree with your comment that the big clubs do take it seriously. They don’t. They just have a depth to their squad which we, unfortunately, do not. Week in week out Arsenal’s bench would start for us – with the exception of GK perhaps.